FAQ: “The Newlywed Game”
Thanks for the questions you asked in the comments about GSN’s revival of The Newlywed Game, presented by e-harmony.com. I’ll respond to the ones I have now. If you have others, be sure to leave comments and I’ll reveal what I can. I’ll just answer your questions now, and a behind the scenes look will come next week.
*From BJ Wanlund: “What makes this host, Carnie Wilson, so good?” First off, if you’re expecting a Bob Eubanks, just stop now. It’s like during the Price is Right host search; you’re not getting another of the original. However, what we have is probably the best I’ve seen hosting the show instead of Bob Eubanks. I have to be perfectly honest, when I heard that Carnie Wilson was hosting, I was afraid. I didn’t doubt she could entirely do it, but I doubted her ability for a format which is so contestant and improvisation based such as this. However, she only had one day of preparation because original host Kathy Najimi dropped out. She also had a nasty cold. Through all of this, she did fantastic on day one.
One thing I mentioned to a lot of my friends on the staff was I remember seeing Chain Reaction. It took three hours to tape an episode because, while Dylan Lane is a great person to talk to and very nice, he was just a host who couldn’t handle what he was given. The Newlywed Game taping took around three hours, but a lot of that was because the contestants were so funny that Carnie kept riffing with them. There was only one major stop down because of a situation I never saw happening so soon, but it wasn’t that bad. Carnie Wilson has the smarm, charm, class, humor, and caring to handle this format. If she improves from how she did on the first day, she’s going to blow you all away.
*Doug Morris asked, “Will the format be the “tried and true” Newlywed Game we’re familiar with” Essentially, yes. With time constraints they had to lower the amount of contestants; there are now three. But it works fine. Three 5 point questions in round one, and round two has two 10 pointers and one 20 pointer. Most points wins a second honeymoon (losing contestants get parting gifts) and the winners play a quick end game against the Goldyweds, a couple from the show decades ago, for a bonus prize. So if you win, you’re guaranteed a vacation.
*James D. asked, “Are the “classic” couples appearing in the bonus game alumni from the 60s/70s version of Eubanks Newlywed Game, the 80s and 90s revivals?” I can tell you more exact info on that next week, but the first episode had a couple from the 70s edition on. They seem to really dig the retro stuff for this show and if there are any older couples willing to be on, they’ll go for it.
*Devon asked, “What does the set design look like? Is it basically the same as the previous decades or has it been altered a bit?” It’s updated for modern times, but it’s a familiar design. Retro-modern, in the way GSN’s I’ve Got A Secret was. I really don’t want to go into details until I have pictures for you, the contestants are center stage in the usual setup of benches behind the scoring monitors, using cards for answers, if anyone is really into going that retro. ”Photo booth” pictures are used as small contestant backdrops for each individual team, placed on a monitor. The coolest part was that the set actually rotates from the front game set to the end game set. It’s a small studio and the way they made it work was fantastic.
*Jay Temple said, “What word or phrase do they use where previous versions said “make whoopie”?” They did use “making whoopie” on the show, but not that much. I know it’s iconic for the show and everything, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to be used every now and then, but that phrase is a bit dated right now. I see no problem with them just saying, “Having sex,” in this day and age.
I’ll answer more questions throughout the week if anyone has anymore. Doing any revival is tricky. However, and I say this constantly, I trust Michael Davies and Embassy Row more than any production company on television; they are truly the best in the genre. They know what works and what doesn’t. They found a really fantastic mix of classic and modern that I’m sure most of you will like.
If you’d like to be in the audience, click here to get tickets from Craigslist or tickets from OnSet Productions. They tape next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday through the evening, so there’s lots of time available to see it. As always, be sure to let me know if you go so I can stop into the audience and say hi.
Thank you for the responses. I was worried about Carnie, but I’ll reserve my opinion until I can actually see the show.
No one would actually write “presented by e-harmony.com” in their review, unless they were required to as part of some sort of deal, would they?
The show is presented by e-harmony.com, including one question per show. They asked me to say it was presented by e-harmony.com, and I did. Doesn’t hurt anyone. For everything they do for the readers of this site, and especially me, it’s the least I can do.
Hey, this being sponsored by eHarmony isn’t a bad thing, if you ask me. It’s sort of a kickback to the old days when game shows were sponsored by companies. Also, it may help the show not be as cheap as recent GSN originals – from the prize rundown that Alex has provided, I’d say that it’s pretty good for The Newlywed Game.
I have no problem with a game show getting a title sponsor. It’s what partially helped game shows grab a foothold. I was just looking for full disclosure.
While this sub-genre of game show has never really been my thing, I’m looking to give this an honest try.
A female host might give this show a different, and better, feel than any of the other versions. Wilson is also a way-off-the-radar selection, which has been a new, yet mostly successful trend in game shows.
I (once again) am with the majority here and say that I don’t have a problem with the show having a title sponsor. To me, it’s because they can get their name out there. Plus, it brings in ad dollars, which is an important element with any network.
It’s also nice to see we’re in changing times where we have a black president and female game show host which, in agreement with Dan Y., is a very successful trend.
I would like to know how my husband and I could become contestants on the Newlywed Game. We were recently married in October 2008.
Send an email to thenewlywedgame@embassyrow.com and we'll reply with an application.
People on Invision said that nobody besides Bob Eubanks could host that show, based on how bad Jim Lange (one week in 1984) and Paul Rodriguez (1988-89) were. Carnie seems to have it, from what I saw last week. In fact, my Bob Eubanks comment is this, Bob’s probably proud of the job Carnie’s doing on his old show.
What are the requirements to be a contestant on the show? What is the maxium amount of years or month a couple can be married to be appear as a contestant?
Season 2 of the Newlywed Game is casting in Los Angeles. If you're near the area you can send an email to thenewlywedgame@embassyrow.com and we'll get back to you with an application. The only requirements for consideration are that you be legally married less than 2 years from the date we tape (Sept/Oct '09).
How do we get on the show? is there a hotline?
i enjoy the show my parents watch it all the time and every time i want to wacth the stupid tv loose it connection do you understand me and i will love to wacth it every day